The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-25
Sons and Sires.
From the Chicago Herald.

From the Chicago Herald.
The death of John Clay, the commonplace
son of an illustrious publicist may recall
that in American history there are but two
conspicuous examples of that influence of
heredity which equips a son to follow with
success in the footsteps of a sire renowned as
a statesman. A son of John Adams, second
President of the United States became in
course of time tenant of the White House.
And his son. serving the republic with honor
in its most important diplomatic post, was
more than once urged'as an available oandi-
date for the presidency. Opportunity may
invite men to undeServed prominence, but
in the present as in preceding generations of
the Adamses well defined capacity for public
affairs is clearly apparent The father of
Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State and
formerly Senator from Delaware, is the son
of James A, who was also Senator from
that State, and the grandson of the Bayard
who was one Of the commissioners to nego-
tate the treaty of Client, and a Senator of
the United States from 1904 to 1913.
Whatever other success in life they may
have achieved or however blameleSs their
personal career, the sons of American states
men of the greatest achievement, other than
those mentioned, have generally played no
more conspicuous part in public affairs than
the only remaining son of Henry Clay, the
one who at the age of 81 has just died. John
no talent for craftsmanship he was better
stock breeder than his father
A number of the Americans foremost in
the distinction of place or of merit left no
heirs of their body. Washington and Jack
son were childlesS JeffersonS boys were all
girls. Buchanan never married. 1t is
scarcely worth while to inquire if Madison
and Monroe left personal descendants, for
it can be recalled that no one bearing their
hoe ootCY in ha oil ypho ~,
they were famous. The son of that most
patrician-like President-Wa Washington pos
sibly excepted-Martin Van Buren,, acquired
a certain but not altogether a fortunate
fame. Known as Prince John because of
an affectation of dignity growing out of his
connection, the wits of the day started the
story that he aspired to the hand of the
Princess Victoria. Yet there was substan-
tial talent in the young man. He was At
torney General of New York in 1915, became
famous as Free Soil orator and settled
down to the practice of the law in New York
city. He died at sea more than 20 years ago.
Old Tippecanoe's grandson, late Senator
from the State of which his grandsre was
for many years Territorial Governor, felt
in 1884 the STRINGS of ambition, and hav-
ing come to Chicago as member of the In
diana delegation, hastily returned home,
that he might not be obliged to put his
modesty too severely to the test in accept
ing the blushing honors of a presidential
nomination. He was spared the trial and
has since lost the Senatorship. Whether
chance will ever crown his ardent desire for
the distinction obtained by Tippecanoe is a
problem which the Hoosier would like to
have solved with as little delay as possible.
The only remaining son of Lincoln has
been vastly more fortunate than the one
surviving heir of Douglas. A successful
lawyer in one branch of the profession,
Robert Lincoln has served in the Cabinet of
two Presidents and, rndeniably, is widely
regarded as possible candidate for either
the Vice Presidency or the Presidency itself
The sons of Hayes plod on in commonplace
fashion after the manner of a commonplace
sire
No young American is at a disadvantage
in the number of his ancestors. A genera
ton or two, more or less, and all mankind
is on a footing in that regard. The differ
ences lie in distinctions of education, oppor-
tunities and wealth. But desert may still
mount. In any field of endeavor there is,
as Webster said, still room on top.